In the Show-Me State, the musings and writings of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910) are revered as canon. With another birthday milestone approaching and bringing the BRC founder deeper into the uncharted terrains of senior citizenry, he turns to a philosophical assessment by Missouri`s favorite son who summed-up this journey:
“Old age is mind over matter. If you don`t mind, it doesn`t matter.”
At a recent and pre-birthday business meeting, the BRC founder painstakingly briefed our youthful CEO on projected FY2015 budgetary shortfalls. Grim austerity measures and workshop staff down-sizing were proffered but discarded by the ever-optimistic CEO who recharged the flagging esprit de corps of all BRC personnel with another timeless injunction
“When you want genuine music–music that will come right home to you like a bad quarter, suffuse your system like strychnine whiskey, go right through you like Brandreth’s pills, ramify your whole constitution like the measles, and break out on your hide like the pin-feather pimples on a picked goose,–when you want all this, just smash your piano, and invoke the glory-beaming banjo!”- Mark Twain, San Francisco Dramatic Chronicle, June 23, 1865.
Reader Quiz: Because of his wit and iconic authorship, what is the definition of a gentleman attributed to humorist Twain? Answer below.
Header Note: “..twixt us twain…” (meaning `between us two`) from Act 2, Scene 1, Taming of the Shrew by Will Shakespeare.
Quiz Answer: A gentleman is someone who knows how to play the banjo and doesn`t.
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I was recently given my grandfather’s banjo, ( I don’t think he played, he just had it).
I would appreciate any information you could give me. It came in a case with purple velvet material. The banjo itself has four strings, has “little wonder” on it, what a I assume is a serial number “78040”. Also has made by the Vega Company in Boston, Massachusetts on it. Also has Jos B. Rogers Jr. and Union Brand Warrented on the back of the skin.
Toby- Thanks for your query. Your `Little Wonder` 4 string banjo SN 78040 was made by Vega in Boston in 1927. This model banjo typically has 28 brackets and a unique tone ring comprised of a round (steel or brass) metal rod with a spun-over German silver sleeve that extends about one-half way down the outer rim like a skirt. The Jos.B.Rogers head was a popular and high-quality calfskin head available years ago, but it is no longer manufactured by the modern Rogers Drum Company. The `Little Wonder` circa 1927 fetches a current price range from $400 to $700, and one instance up to $2000, depending on condition, original parts, and special appointments of the instrument. It is a lovely heirloom. Enjoy and thanks for your post, Barry